Acts 7:14

seventy-five: Compare this number with the seventy mentioned in the Hebrew text of Genesis 46:27. The number seventy-five probably comes from the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Septuagint includes three people descended from Ephraim and two of Manasseh in 46:20. This adds five more people. The Hebrew text does not include those descended from Joseph’s sons. New Testament authors mostly quote from the Septuagint, which sometimes differs from the Hebrew Masoretic Text.

• Stephen answered the accusations by speaking about his Lord (see Luke 21:12–17). Instead of defending himself, he became a witness in God's legal case against them. This revealed how contrary they were and their lack of loyalty. Stephen gave a history of Israel's past and reminded them of their repeated rejections of those who announced God's messages.

• Stephen's review of Israel's history has three main parts:

  1. The work of the patriarchs. This refers to Abraham and those descended from him who founded the nation of Israel (Acts 7:2–16).

  2. The ministry of Moses (7:17–43).

  3. The role of the tabernacle and the temple (7:44–50).

     Stephen ended his historical survey with a strong criticism of his people's lack of obedience. Like a prophet, he challenged them to stop resisting the Holy Spirit. He told them to turn to God with grief for their sins (repentance) and faith.